I'm visiting my parents at the end of September. They've been very supportive of my vegan diet and, as a way to express my gratitude (and show them that I'm living on a diet of raw tofu and arugula), I'd like to cook them dinner. I haven't been vegan for very long, and I usually cook fairly simple one-pot meals for myself, so I don't want to attempt anything too elaborate (may save that for the holidays). As for cookbooks, I have VWAV, Veganomicon, Urban Vegan, AVK, Vegan Diner, Eat Drink and Be Vegan, Vive le Vegan, Viva Vegan, 500 Vegan Recipes, Hearty Meals, Terry Walters's Clean Food and Clean Start, and a couple of soup cookbooks from Anna Thomas and Nava Atlas.

My parents don't like very spicy foods, so I'm thinking nothing with curry, ginger, etc. They love Italian food, but I don't want to make them pasta with marinara - they eat that a lot. I don't think they'd go for tofu, tempeh, or seitan just yet. I'm thinking just a fresh fall meal. Here are the recipes I'm thinking of.

i haven't made the other two recipes (my family are NOT chickpea fans, and wouldn't eat anything with recognizable chickpeas in it), but i can tell you that i made roasted butternut soup for my mother, who couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was. That led to me roasting all sorts of stuff whenever I cook for her. It really impressed her- i think you can't go wrong with it.

Actually, I'd vote against the Lasagne from AFR. I'd either go with pumpkin based ziti from Veganomicom. The eggplant-potato moussaka from Veganomicom is also a good choice.

Yes! This is exactly what I was going to say, I have made both for fearful family and they went over really well. And see if you think you could do the eggplant rollatini in Veganomicon, that one was very very popular and easily finished with pasta and the extra marinara and a salad.

I think your menu sounds delicious too but I'd add a starch and a green with the chickpeas romesco like polenta and a salad maybe.

Thanks for the tips! I would definitely serve the chickpeas romesco with a starch - probably quinoa, maybe with some arugula mixed in. The pumpkin ziti has been on my to-try list forever. My only hesistancy about making it for my parents is that they typically shy away from really heavy dinners (though maybe they'd make an exception for a special occasion). Is the pumpkin ziti pretty rich and heavy? I'd probably do a simple salad instead of soup if so.

Yeah, pumpkin ziti! Everyone loves that. It's kind of rich (though I wouldn't say heavy), and you can always serve them a small portion of the ziti with a huge salad. My parents love the moussaka too. I guess those two dishes are universally omni-family approved. The Caesar salad in V'Con is also a favourite.

Good choice on the walnut-mushroom pate. My omni friends go absolutely nuts when I make this and leave me no leftovers.

I too vote for the pumpkin ziti. I wouldn't say it's any richer than the majority of Italian dishes - certainly less heavy than a baked macaroni. If you make it, definitely use the cashew ricotta (yes, there's some tofu, no, neither you nor your parents will be able to tell), make homemade breadcrumbs, and seriously seriously, don't leave out the sage. But this is another dish that omnis love and it's super impressive.

As awesome as the poblano and butternut squash soup sounds (seriously, must find this recipe), you might want to do a salad instead to lighten up between courses - or really really small bowls of soup and serve the ziti with a salad. It will also give some new textures and colors to your deep rooty fall menu.

Good luck!

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Another vote for the pumpkin ziti. My family really loved it and it does go with your autumnal theme. That being said, the Veganomicon recipe for lasagna, topped with the pine nut cream is also stellar and when I made it, my dad said it was the best vegan thing I had ever made and that it was the only dish that didn't leave him wanting to say, "It was good, but it'd be better with some chicken/ground beef/etc." Pretty high praise for Isa's recipe, if you ask me. Not sure about the butternut squash soup or the chickpeas romesco, but they both sound lovely as well.

The walnut mushroom pate is probably my favorite spread. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd make it all the time eat it at every meal... Haha.

Thanks everyone! You've convinced me that the pumpkin ziti definitely needs to make an appearance with my family in the near future, if not on this visit, then definitely at Thanksgiving or Christmas. The mole skillet pie too!

Thanks everyone! You've convinced me that the pumpkin ziti definitely needs to make an appearance with my family in the near future, if not on this visit, then definitely at Thanksgiving or Christmas. The mole skillet pie too!

I made it for omnis for American thanksgiving last year and for my family a couple of xmas' ago. It's definitely a good holiday dish--many of the people I've made it for mostly ignored the turkey in favour of the ziti! Actually, my family decided to have a vegetarian xmas dinner last year because I've wowed them so many times in the past with the vegan option, and they are no longer afraid they'll go hungry. My mum even bought v'com after loving the moussaka and the ziti!

I made the pumpkin ziti for my family and it actually had mixed reviews. One being from me. I didn't really taste much in it. besides a ton of oil and sage from the bread crumbs. Very rich too, well for us. So if your family is a little iffy on the richness factor, or sensitive to meals with a good amount of fat, I might not make it.

Thanks everyone! You've convinced me that the pumpkin ziti definitely needs to make an appearance with my family in the near future, if not on this visit, then definitely at Thanksgiving or Christmas. The mole skillet pie too!

I love the pumpkin ziti too, and made it for one of the holiday dinners last year. I think it's a perfect holiday meal.